Neng Nana
After a distinguished tenure contributing to the visual language of some of the most successful franchises in DreamWorks Animation history—and following the critical acclaim of his 2019 Oscar-shortlisted short Bilby—director and animator Liron Topaz is shifting his lens toward a more intimate, independent horizon. His latest project, Saba, a hauntingly beautiful 10-minute short, is set to make its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival this Saturday, June 6, 2026.
Saba is not merely a technical achievement; it is a profound meditation on the nature of loss. Set in a surrealist universe where the laws of physics are inverted, the film follows a young boy and his grandfather, the titular "Saba," as they navigate a world where life is held to the earth by ropes and anchors, while the departed drift inexorably toward the sky.
The Genesis of a Surreal Concept
For Topaz, the creative impulse behind Saba began not with a visual gimmick, but with a fundamental, existential inquiry into the human experience of bereavement.
"The idea of gravity flowing upward came from a simple emotional question: what if the people we’ve lost never truly leave us, but continue to exist just beyond our reach?" Topaz explained to Cartoon Brew. "In the world of Saba, everything that is alive remains grounded, while everything that is no longer living slowly drifts upward toward the other side. The concept was born from the idea that our time in this world is borrowed. We are all here temporarily, anchored for a brief moment before continuing on."
This metaphor—the tension between the anchor and the pull of the sky—serves as the film’s narrative engine. As the boy experiences the loss of his grandfather, he must navigate a landscape that reflects his internal state: a world where everything, from the architecture to the furniture, is in a constant, precarious tug-of-war between the physical world and the void above.
Chronology of the Production
The journey of Saba represents a departure from the high-velocity, multi-departmental workflow of major studio animation. Topaz sought to return to the roots of the medium, drawing inspiration from masters of independent animation such as Michael Dudok de Wit and the British animator Mark Baker (The Village, The Hill Farm).
.png){kind=logo}
Development Phase
Following the conclusion of his commitments at DreamWorks, Topaz began conceptualizing the project in early 2024. He sought to create a narrative that was "rooted in his own experience but open enough for audiences to project their own grief." By late 2024, the script—which features zero dialogue—was finalized, relying entirely on visual storytelling and atmosphere.
The Single-Shot Execution
One of the most striking aspects of Saba is its presentation as a single, continuous, uninterrupted shot. While this technique can often feel like an exercise in vanity, Topaz insisted that the creative choice was strictly tied to the film’s thematic content.
"The single-shot approach was always meant to serve the story," Topaz noted. "Grief is rarely experienced in neat chapters or clean transitions. It unfolds as a continuous emotional journey, and we wanted the audience to experience that journey alongside the boy in real time."
The Assembly of Talent
Throughout 2025 and early 2026, Topaz curated a dream team of international animators. The production became a collaborative exercise in precision, requiring the seamless handover of character performance and environment design from one artist to another to maintain the illusion of a single take. The roster of animators includes industry luminaries such as James Baxter, Antoine Antin, Sandro Cleuzo, and Matt Williames.
Supporting Data: The Craft Behind the Illusion
The film’s visual fidelity is a result of meticulous planning. By utilizing a "one-shot" structure, the production team had to solve complex logistical problems regarding lighting, character placement, and environmental transitions that usually occur behind the scenes of a cut.
- Production Philosophy: The production mirrored the film’s narrative arc. According to Topaz, the team relied on a system of "seamless handoffs," where each animator took responsibility for a segment, ensuring that the emotional resonance remained consistent throughout the 10-minute duration.
- The Cast & Crew: Produced by Lirit Rosenzweig Topaz, the project features a heavy-hitting list of executive producers, including Christopher DeFaria and Gigi Pritzker. Miyu Distribution has taken on the task of bringing the film to the international festival circuit.
- Technical Constraints: The lack of dialogue forces the animation to do the "heavy lifting." The animators had to rely on subtle physical acting—the tension of a rope, the weight of an anchor, and the posture of the child—to convey the complexities of mourning.
Official Responses and Creative Intent
In discussions regarding the film’s release, Liron Topaz has been clear about his desire to move away from the "commercial polish" of his previous career.
"After spending much of my career in commercial animation, I felt a strong desire to return to independent filmmaking," he said. When asked about what he hopes the audience takes away from the viewing experience, he emphasized the universality of the feeling of "the unsaid."
"I hope audiences walk away with a sense of recognition—that longing for one more moment, one more conversation, one more chance to say what was never said. It’s something we all carry in different ways, and the film tries to give shape to that feeling in a poetic, visual form."
Implications for the Animation Industry
The release of Saba at the Tribeca Festival signals a broader trend within the animation industry: the return of "A-list" talent to the independent space. As streaming platforms and major studios shift their focus toward serialized content and franchise longevity, creators who have spent decades in the "machine" are finding solace and creative renewal in short-form, high-concept, auteur-driven projects.
The "Auteur" Shift
Topaz’s career trajectory—from Oscar-nominated studio work to personal, self-authored short films—mirrors a growing sentiment among industry professionals. The ability to control the visual language and narrative arc of a film without the interference of corporate mandates allows for a deeper exploration of human themes.
The Evolution of the Short Film Format
Saba serves as a benchmark for the "prestige short." By utilizing world-class animators to execute a highly complex, single-shot narrative, Topaz is elevating the short film from a "calling card" for young directors to a legitimate, high-art medium for established veterans. The industry is watching to see how the audience—and critics—react to this fusion of studio-level technical skill and raw, independent emotional vulnerability.
What Lies Ahead
As Saba prepares for its debut, the film stands as a testament to the idea that animation can be as poignant as live-action cinema. By stripping away dialogue and focusing on the tactile, visual metaphors of grief, Liron Topaz has created a work that promises to be one of the most discussed short films of the year.
The film serves as a reminder that regardless of the tools—whether they be CG, hand-drawn, or stop-motion—the soul of the work remains in the storyteller’s ability to ground the audience in a shared human reality. For the boy in Saba, that reality is anchored to the earth. For the audience, it is an invitation to look up and let go.
Cast & Credits Overview:
- Director/Writer: Liron Topaz
- Producer: Lirit Rosenzweig Topaz
- Key Animators: Antoine Antin, James Baxter, Simone Cirillo, Sandro Cleuzo, Mael Gourmelen, Fernando Moro, Kevin O’Hara, Slaven Reese, Tim Watts, Matt Williames.
- Executive Producers: Christopher DeFaria, Gigi Pritzker, Noam Dromi, David Katznelson, Becky Korman, Lily Korman, Shai Korman, Rob Schwartz.
- Distribution: Miyu Distribution.
Asro
Basiran
